Because TPTB are a lot kinder to us than they are to poor beleaguered Kang To and company, we get one episode of Bridal Mask this week despite the Olympics. The preview is out, and to say it's a doozy, would be the understatement of the century:

In news of other avengers against society, Kim Hyun Joong is joining the group and is filming City Conquest. I love revenge/action dramas but the difference between CQ and dramas like Bridal Mask or City Hunter is that Joo Won and Lee Min Ho have a lot of chops and so create the characters that ground the story and make me feel. Kim Hyun Joong, unless he massively improved between his last drama and now, cannot act if his life depended on it. Still, he and Jung Yumi are hella pretty together:

Because TPTB are a lot kinder to us than they are to poor beleaguered Kang To and company, we get one episode of Bridal Mask this week despite the Olympics. The preview is out, and to say it's a doozy, would be the understatement of the century:

In news of other avengers against society, Kim Hyun Joong is joining the group and is filming City Conquest. I love revenge/action dramas but the difference between CQ and dramas like Bridal Mask or City Hunter is that Joo Won and Lee Min Ho have a lot of chops and so create the characters that ground the story and make me feel. Kim Hyun Joong, unless he massively improved between his last drama and now, cannot act if his life depended on it. Still, he and Jung Yumi are hella pretty together:

Because TPTB are a lot kinder to us than they are to poor beleaguered Kang To and company, we get one episode of Bridal Mask this week despite the Olympics. The preview is out, and to say it's a doozy, would be the understatement of the century:

In news of other avengers against society, Kim Hyun Joong is joining the group and is filming City Conquest. I love revenge/action dramas but the difference between CQ and dramas like Bridal Mask or City Hunter is that Joo Won and Lee Min Ho have a lot of chops and so create the characters that ground the story and make me feel. Kim Hyun Joong, unless he massively improved between his last drama and now, cannot act if his life depended on it. Still, he and Jung Yumi are hella pretty together:

1. Have not yet seen this week's Bridal Mask so do not spoil me (staying away from tumblr). Am waiting for 720p :)

2. The upcoming City Conquest sounds like nightmare on a stick - it has the director of IRIS and is based on a manga about vengeance that sounds very much up my alley BUT not only does it have more wooden than a tree Kim Hyun Joong as the lead (why?! I think he's adorable in real life and drop-dead gorgeous but he cannot act to save his life and has zero dramatic star charisma in drama roles, as opposed to on-stage) but, even deadlier, the screenwriter is the one who wrote that appalling mess Lie to Me. Right now, I will be tuning in out of sheer horrified curiously. (Honestly, there are a TON of wonderful young actors out there - why does KHJ get the gig?)

3. There are still no previews for this week's A Gentleman's Dignity. Argh! I keep wondering what is going to happen to our four couples. Here are my hypotheses:

* Jang Rok/Min Sook - I would be shocked if they got divorced - their weird marriage clearly works for them. The question is how JR will worm himself back into her graces. I doubt he would ever reform.* Tae San/Sera - I don't really care tbh. They sidestepped their real issues - her insecurities and high-maintenance, his solipsism and bossiness. They are making some steps so I think it will work out, but honestly, they are pretty shallow and self-involved. * Yoon/Maeri - they are at an impasse. It's pretty clear to the viewers but not to Maeri that Yoon is head over heels for her, but it's equally clear he feels bound by his promise to Tae San and his own feelings of age difference/unworthiness/whatever and thus will not make a move. His being scared for her safety didn't draw him out and neither did stirring of jealousy or her steady and open devotion. At this point, I'd like for Maeri to give up and for Yoon to chase but I can't see that. He needs to be either truly made jealous or for her to really end up in some life-threatening situation to break past his barriers. Because it will be worth it.* Do Jin/Yi Soo - I think it's pretty clear after ep 10, they are about to enter the bliss of mutual attraction and love. I want to see them be a happy solid new couple (hopefully with epic make-outs, though Yi Soo is a bit on the conservative side so I think Do Jin will have to wait a bit for sex, alas). I am pretty sure Colin is DJ's son but before that comes up or even more mundane things, like Yi Soo being traditional and wanting marriage and Do Jin's feelings on that more unclear (he said in that interview he didn't want a wife but it's clear he's breaking all his rules as far as Yi Soo is concerned), I want some glowy honeymoony stuff.

4. I am so excited for Five Fingers, that will be replacing AGD because Joo Ji Hoon, one of my earliest and most enduring kdrama loves, will be starring in it. I think his last drama was in 2007 which is much much too long.

5. Speaking of excited, Kim Young Chul is joining Nice Guy as Moon Chae Won's father/husband to Park Shi Yeon/guy who PSY ditched Song Joong Ki for. He played MCW's Dad in one of my all-time faves, The Princess' Man - clearly he is gunning for a 'MCW's Dad who is hated by her love' niche.

6. I dumped Flower Boy Ramyun Shop but this MV has got me to reconsider:

1. Have not yet seen this week's Bridal Mask so do not spoil me (staying away from tumblr). Am waiting for 720p :)

2. The upcoming City Conquest sounds like nightmare on a stick - it has the director of IRIS and is based on a manga about vengeance that sounds very much up my alley BUT not only does it have more wooden than a tree Kim Hyun Joong as the lead (why?! I think he's adorable in real life and drop-dead gorgeous but he cannot act to save his life and has zero dramatic star charisma in drama roles, as opposed to on-stage) but, even deadlier, the screenwriter is the one who wrote that appalling mess Lie to Me. Right now, I will be tuning in out of sheer horrified curiously. (Honestly, there are a TON of wonderful young actors out there - why does KHJ get the gig?)

3. There are still no previews for this week's A Gentleman's Dignity. Argh! I keep wondering what is going to happen to our four couples. Here are my hypotheses:

* Jang Rok/Min Sook - I would be shocked if they got divorced - their weird marriage clearly works for them. The question is how JR will worm himself back into her graces. I doubt he would ever reform.* Tae San/Sera - I don't really care tbh. They sidestepped their real issues - her insecurities and high-maintenance, his solipsism and bossiness. They are making some steps so I think it will work out, but honestly, they are pretty shallow and self-involved. * Yoon/Maeri - they are at an impasse. It's pretty clear to the viewers but not to Maeri that Yoon is head over heels for her, but it's equally clear he feels bound by his promise to Tae San and his own feelings of age difference/unworthiness/whatever and thus will not make a move. His being scared for her safety didn't draw him out and neither did stirring of jealousy or her steady and open devotion. At this point, I'd like for Maeri to give up and for Yoon to chase but I can't see that. He needs to be either truly made jealous or for her to really end up in some life-threatening situation to break past his barriers. Because it will be worth it.* Do Jin/Yi Soo - I think it's pretty clear after ep 10, they are about to enter the bliss of mutual attraction and love. I want to see them be a happy solid new couple (hopefully with epic make-outs, though Yi Soo is a bit on the conservative side so I think Do Jin will have to wait a bit for sex, alas). I am pretty sure Colin is DJ's son but before that comes up or even more mundane things, like Yi Soo being traditional and wanting marriage and Do Jin's feelings on that more unclear (he said in that interview he didn't want a wife but it's clear he's breaking all his rules as far as Yi Soo is concerned), I want some glowy honeymoony stuff.

4. I am so excited for Five Fingers, that will be replacing AGD because Joo Ji Hoon, one of my earliest and most enduring kdrama loves, will be starring in it. I think his last drama was in 2007 which is much much too long.

5. Speaking of excited, Kim Young Chul is joining Nice Guy as Moon Chae Won's father/husband to Park Shi Yeon/guy who PSY ditched Song Joong Ki for. He played MCW's Dad in one of my all-time faves, The Princess' Man - clearly he is gunning for a 'MCW's Dad who is hated by her love' niche.

6. I dumped Flower Boy Ramyun Shop but this MV has got me to reconsider:

1. Have not yet seen this week's Bridal Mask so do not spoil me (staying away from tumblr). Am waiting for 720p :)

2. The upcoming City Conquest sounds like nightmare on a stick - it has the director of IRIS and is based on a manga about vengeance that sounds very much up my alley BUT not only does it have more wooden than a tree Kim Hyun Joong as the lead (why?! I think he's adorable in real life and drop-dead gorgeous but he cannot act to save his life and has zero dramatic star charisma in drama roles, as opposed to on-stage) but, even deadlier, the screenwriter is the one who wrote that appalling mess Lie to Me. Right now, I will be tuning in out of sheer horrified curiously. (Honestly, there are a TON of wonderful young actors out there - why does KHJ get the gig?)

3. There are still no previews for this week's A Gentleman's Dignity. Argh! I keep wondering what is going to happen to our four couples. Here are my hypotheses:

* Jang Rok/Min Sook - I would be shocked if they got divorced - their weird marriage clearly works for them. The question is how JR will worm himself back into her graces. I doubt he would ever reform.* Tae San/Sera - I don't really care tbh. They sidestepped their real issues - her insecurities and high-maintenance, his solipsism and bossiness. They are making some steps so I think it will work out, but honestly, they are pretty shallow and self-involved. * Yoon/Maeri - they are at an impasse. It's pretty clear to the viewers but not to Maeri that Yoon is head over heels for her, but it's equally clear he feels bound by his promise to Tae San and his own feelings of age difference/unworthiness/whatever and thus will not make a move. His being scared for her safety didn't draw him out and neither did stirring of jealousy or her steady and open devotion. At this point, I'd like for Maeri to give up and for Yoon to chase but I can't see that. He needs to be either truly made jealous or for her to really end up in some life-threatening situation to break past his barriers. Because it will be worth it.* Do Jin/Yi Soo - I think it's pretty clear after ep 10, they are about to enter the bliss of mutual attraction and love. I want to see them be a happy solid new couple (hopefully with epic make-outs, though Yi Soo is a bit on the conservative side so I think Do Jin will have to wait a bit for sex, alas). I am pretty sure Colin is DJ's son but before that comes up or even more mundane things, like Yi Soo being traditional and wanting marriage and Do Jin's feelings on that more unclear (he said in that interview he didn't want a wife but it's clear he's breaking all his rules as far as Yi Soo is concerned), I want some glowy honeymoony stuff.

4. I am so excited for Five Fingers, that will be replacing AGD because Joo Ji Hoon, one of my earliest and most enduring kdrama loves, will be starring in it. I think his last drama was in 2007 which is much much too long.

5. Speaking of excited, Kim Young Chul is joining Nice Guy as Moon Chae Won's father/husband to Park Shi Yeon/guy who PSY ditched Song Joong Ki for. He played MCW's Dad in one of my all-time faves, The Princess' Man - clearly he is gunning for a 'MCW's Dad who is hated by her love' niche.

6. I dumped Flower Boy Ramyun Shop but this MV has got me to reconsider: